Ventura County DUID Defense Lawyer

DUI of Drugs (DUID)

 

In the state of California, it is against the law for any person to operate a motor vehicle if their functions are compromised by legal or illegal drugs according to California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a). Both illegal controlled substances and prescription medications can significantly inhibit a person's ability to drive, and anyone who does is subject to criminal penalties if they are detained by law enforcement. Ventura County is cracking down on drug impaired drivers, so if you or someone close to you has been arrested for DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) in Ventura County  , you need to act now and speak with a DUI defense attorney.

When a case involves DUID charges, it does not matter whether the driver took a legal or illegal drug. Even if the drug was prescribed by a legitimate physician or medical professional, you could still be convicted of this offense if the prosecution can prove that you were in fact impaired by the drug. Whether or not the driver was "under the influence" is the main point crucial in any DUID case, and as long as your lawyer can provide evidence to show your abilities were not affected by a drug, you will have a good shot of beating your charges.

 

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

 

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence of any of the following drugs, you need to contact an Ventura County DUI lawyer immediately so work can begin on your case:

Three types of drugs are abused most often:

 

• Opioids—prescribed for pain relief

 

• CNS depressants—barbiturates and benzodiazepines prescribed for anxiety or sleep problems (often referred to as sedatives or tranquilizers)

 

• Stimulants—prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the sleep disorder narcolepsy, or obesity.

 

Opioids include:

 

• Vicodin®

 

• OxyContin®

 

• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)

 

• Demerol®

 

• Diphenoxylate (Lomotil®)

 

• Morphone

 

• Methadone

 

• Fentanyl (a powerful synthetic opiate analgesic similar to but more potent than morphine. It is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, or to manage pain after surgery)

 

• Suboxene (opiate approved for treatment of opiate abuse)

 

Drugs affecting the central nervous system include:

• Pentobarbital sodium

• Valium®

• Xanax®

 

Stimulant drugs include:

• Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)

• Methylphenidate: such as Ritalin®

• Amphetamines: such as Adderall®

 

Even prescription drugs that are "legal" can affect your driving and may warrant an arrest for driving under the influence of drugs. These types of drugs can include medical marijuana, xanax, valium, codeine and more. You may also have been arrested for DUI of drugs if you were using a substance in such a way that it could alter your mind. This category commonly includes inhalants such as household products that include solvents and gases. Other drugs emerging on the market that could potentially warrant an arrest for DUI of drugs include "spice" (synthetic cannabinoids), salvia and bath salts.

 

Painkillers, tranquilizers, allergy medicines and antidepressants can have adverse effects on drivers. Just because you are prescribed them doesn’t mean you should drive while under their influence. Any driver can be considered impaired due to use of prescription drugs. If you have the presence of a legal prescription drug in your system and your driving is negatively impacted, you can be arrested for DUI. Whether the drug alters mood, changes vision or reflexes, the results are the same: you are an impaired driver that is a threat to other drivers.

 

The behavioral effects of prescription medication vary widely, depending not just on the drug but on the person taking it. Some, like anti-anxiety drugs, can dull alertness and slow reaction time; others, like stimulants, can encourage risk-taking and hurt the ability to judge distances. Mixing prescriptions, or taking them with alcohol or illicit drugs, can exacerbate impairment and sharply increase the risk of crashing, researchers say. Setting any kind of limit for prescription medications is far more complicated, partly because the complex chemistry of drugs makes their effects more difficult to predict than alcohol's. And determining whether a driver took drugs soon before getting on the road can be tricky, since some linger in the body for days or weeks. Prosecutors in drugged-driving cases rely heavily on the testimony of "drug recognition experts," law enforcement officers trained to spot signs of impairment in drivers. But there are only about 7,000 such officers nationwide.

 

Call our Ventura County DUI of drugs attorneys today!

 

DUID cases tend to be rather complex, which is why they warrant representation from a lawyer. At the Law Office of Kyron Johnson, we provide top-notch representation to people who are facing charges from driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) in Ventura County, California. DUID is prosecuted similarly to DUI cases involving alcohol, and as such, has the potential to end in serious consequences. For this reason, it is imperative to retain legal representation from a skilled DUI attorney who is experienced defending clients facing DUID charges.

 

Ventura County DUI Lawyer Kyron Johnson will fight your charges in an aggressive manner in order to prevent you from suffering the harsh penalties that could follow a conviction. Contact Ventura County DUID Attorney Kyron Johnson today!